On DVD: The Devil Came on Horseback

Directed by Anne Sundberg and Ricki Stern

Featuring U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle

Anne Sundberg and Ricki Stern, directors of the compelling documentary film The Trials of Darryl Hunt, now focus their lenses on the conflict in Darfur, Sudan in The Devil Came on Horseback, recently released on DVD by Docurama.

The Movie

First, a quick primer on the situation in Darfur, Sudan: Darfur is located in far western Sudan in Africa. The current conflict in the country is considered to be more ethnic and tribal rather than religious as both sides are predominately Muslim. On one side is the Sudanese Military and the Janjaweed (which translates to devil on horseback). These groups are of Arab descent. On the other side are the rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equality Movement.

These groups are primarily of non Arab/African Tribal descent. The Sudanese Military and Janjaweed, supported by the government, are committing acts that are nothing less than ethnic cleansing, trying to erase the African Tribal people from the area. The most recent statistics are that over 400,000 have been killed and over 2.5 million people are refugees that suffer from drought, shortage of food and overpopulation.

Enter into the picture former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle. He takes a job with the African Union to monitor the ceasefire that was signed in 2004. The ceasefire is being respected and the area is in total chaos.

African Tribes are being systematically killed, tortured, villages torched and women and children raped by the Sudanese Military and Janjaweed. Steidle is soon overpowered and outgunned. He feels the best thing he can do is film the atrocities, stay alive and bring the tapes back to the U.S Government and somehow get the government to take action against the genocide.

He struggles emotionally with the carnage and despair he witnesses and films every day. Steidle comes from a long line of military men and still his courage and strength is tested throughout.

He quits his position and returns home to the United States armed with hours upon hours of the situation in Darfur. He wisely makes contact quickly with Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times to help get his photos and video into the news and the public eye.

The press immediately pounces on the story and it becomes instant headline news, on television, newspapers and magazines. What type of response from the United States government does the situation receive? A very brief, fleeting and non committal response from President Bush and Condoleeza Rice that acknowledges the existence of the problem but offers no solution or the desire to find a solution.

It is yet again another tragedy to watch Steidle become aware that his government is going to turn their heads to the situation, much like other countries, and stand idly by, doing nothing, offering nothing.

The Devil Came on Horseback is understandably not an easy viewing experience. It is heart wrenching and emotional. While the presentation is a bit on the dry side, it is still vital viewing to try to better grasp the grave situation that is happening right now while the rest of the world is concerned about the holidays, gas prices or if Brittany Spears or Lindsey Lohan will make through the latest rehab attempt.

7/10

The Video

The Devil Came On Horseback is presented in widescreen. Since alot of the footage is from a consumer level camcorder that Steidle brought to Sudan, the quality is understandably in the fair category.

6/10

The Audio

The Devil Came on Horseback is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround 2.0. The dialogue is crystal clear throughout.

6.5/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

The Devil Came on Horseback is presented in a standard amaray case with appropriate artwork for the film’s subject.

The only extra is a 12 minute featurette entitled Supporting Survivors that tells the stories of survivors of rape in Darfur.

While the bonus features are not plentiful, the featurette that is included is thought provoking and challenging.

4.5/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10

The Review

The Movie 7/10